Backcountry skiers in spotlight at resorts this season

While thousands of runners were wearing shorts and running Bloomsday on May 5, Gregg Smith of Spokane led his daughter, Sarah, 14, (left) and son, Michael, 17, (right) on a backcountry skiing adventure near Lookout Pass. The warm weekend weather had begun triggering spring avalanches in the heavy mountain snowpack, so the skiers carved telemark turns mostly in the trees.
(Photo by Gregg Smith / The Spokesman-Review)

WINTER SPORTS -- Backcountry skiers who use alpine ski resorts that operate on public land are being scrutinized this season.

Uphill skiers at Montana resort warned to use designated routesThere are two routes uphill skiers at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana may use to access the powder under their own power, and a U.S. Forest Service official who works with the resort on its special permit warned skiers to stick to those routes to avoid additional regulations on the practice. --Flathead Beacon